When a benign tumor requires treatment, it isn't too different from the treatment of a malignant or cancerous tumor. It may be radiation therapy, radiosurgery for benign tumors located in the skull base, surgery or chemotherapy.
In many cases, benign tumors need no treatment. Doctors may simply use "watchful waiting" to make sure they cause no problems. But treatment may be needed if symptoms are a problem. Surgery is a common type of treatment for benign tumors.
A growth that is not cancer. It does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.
Benign (non-cancerous) brain tumours can usually be successfully removed with surgery and do not usually grow back. It often depends on whether the surgeon is able to safely remove all of the tumour. If there's some left, it can either be monitored with scans or treated with radiotherapy.
Less commonly, chemotherapy is used to treat non-cancerous conditions. For example, low doses have been used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Even benign tumors can be uncomfortable. If you feel or see a lump, visit an oncologist for an examination. If the doctor confirms that you have a malignant tumor, you will likely feel some uncertainty and fear. However, you can have peace of mind that the doctor will develop an effective treatment plan.
Specific types of benign tumors can turn into malignant tumors. These are monitored closely and may require surgical removal. For example, colon polyps (another name for an abnormal mass of cells) can become malignant and are therefore usually surgically removed.
Even though most benign tumors are harmless and can be left alone, it's important they be monitored. And any tumor that is painful or growing requires a visit to the doctor.
Benign tumors grow only in one place. They cannot spread or invade other parts of your body. Even so, they can be dangerous if they press on vital organs, such as your brain. Tumors are made up of extra cells.
“Most benign tumors aren't life-threatening. They can be left alone as they are unlikely to cause damage to any other areas of your body. In fact, many individuals carry benign tumors that don't require treatment, such as moles, throughout their lives.”
Non-cancerous brain tumours tend to stay in one place and don't spread. They won't usually come back if all of the tumour can be safely removed during surgery. Because they aren't cancerous they can often be successfully treated, but they're still serious and can be life threatening.
The exact cause of a benign tumor is often unknown. It develops when cells in the body divide and grow at an excessive rate. Typically, the body is able to balance cell growth and division. When old or damaged cells die, they are automatically replaced with new, healthy cells.
New cells form when your body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can divide without stopping and may form tumor. Treatment often involves surgery. Benign tumors usually don't grow back.
A benign tumor is an abnormal but noncancerous collection of cells. It can form anywhere on or in your body when cells multiply more than they should or don't die when they should. A benign tumor is not malignant. It grows more slowly, has even borders and doesn't spread to other parts of your body.
While many benign tumors do not need treatment, some do, especially if they are causing symptoms. Usually if a benign tumor requires treatment, we remove it surgically. Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive techniques, which require small incisions and have minimal recovery time.
But not all tumors are malignant, or cancerous, and not all are aggressive. Benign tumors, while sometimes painful and potentially dangerous, do not pose the threat that malignant tumors do. "Malignant cells are more likely to metastasize [invade other organs]," says Fernando U.
Most patients are able to resume normal activity levels and return to work in six to 12 weeks.
If not removed entirely by surgery, the growth of benign tumors should be monitored regularly by the patient and every six months to a year by the physician. In cases of sarcoma (cancerous growth), patients should have regular rechecks of their condition to monitor whether the cancer has metastasized or recurred.
2 While benign tumors are not cancerous, some of them can grow very large (sometimes up to several pounds) if left untreated.
There is no way to tell from symptoms alone if a tumor is benign or malignant. Often an MRI scan can reveal the tumor type, but in many cases, a biopsy is required.
Lipomas: Lipomas are formed by fat cells. They are the most common type of benign tumor. Meningiomas: These tumors develop in the brain and spinal cord membranes and are most commonly benign. Nevi: These noncancerous growths are more typically known as moles and appear on the skin.
There are separate staging systems for benign and malignant mesenchymal tumors. The staging system for benign musculoskeletal tumors (Table 1) consists of three categories: ie, latent, active, and aggressive [4]. The classification is based on radiographic characteristics of the tumor host margin.
Cysts that appear uniform after examination by ultrasound or a computerized tomography (CT) scan are almost always benign and should simply be observed. If the cyst has solid components, it may be benign or malignant and should have further evaluation.
Non-cancerous tumors can also cause fatigue. Some grow large enough to damage organs or glands, causing their function to decline. Most pituitary adenomas (tumors) are non-cancerous.
Chronic stress can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system, cause the release of endocrine hormones and promote the occurrence and development of tumors.